Avoid simple demographics questions (e.g. what
if they used all females, or all Whites)

Avoid vague questions about the results
(e.g.
how would the results have changed if...) What result are you referring to? Be specific.

Avoid phrasing questions so that they can be
answered with a simple yes or no (e.g. Do you think they researcher considered
the fact that they students were not attending to the stimuli?)

Try to develop questions that deal with the
main findings or major points identified in the studies.

Try to develop questions that deal with the
implications of the study.

Examples of discussion questions (note: good
discussion questions often have multiple components):

1.
What are some of the ways in which we acquire stereotypes?Does the method of acquisition alter the effect of the stereotypes?How
does simple awareness of stereotypes lead to potential discrimination?

2. The authors
compare the emergence of the home computer to the advent of the TV in terms of
what they feel to be a technological change that resulted in social
disengagement. Why would you consider this to be a fair comparison? Are
their other technological advancements that you feel would be a better parallel
in regards to the social impact of the home computer?

3. Lea &
Spears suggest that paralanguage takes the form of typographical marks and other
text features that although they have no lexical meaning, nevertheless signify
socially shared meanings. How has the usage of paralanguage in
computer-mediated communication aided in impression formation? Do you feel
that impression formed via the use of paralanguage (e.g. emoticons) are
accurate? Is paralanguage usage in CMC comparable to its use in
face-to-face interactions?

4. Social
Identity theory suggest that our identities are derived in part from our
memberships in social categories. How does social interaction during
computer-mediated communication influence our social identities? Is this
consistent with the predictions made by social identity theory? Do you
think that Lea & Spears' manipulation was effective in altering the salience
of social vs. individual identity? Explain.